ADH Releases Preliminary List of Hospitals
Participating in Phase I of Smallpox Pre-Event Plan

(Little Rock) -- While still awaiting replies from 30 acute care hospitals, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is reporting that 34 hospitals have confirmed their planned participation in Phase I of the Arkansas Smallpox Pre-Event plan. Sixteen hospitals have declined participation at this time.

“Based on preliminary figures, we have 1,338 volunteers from 34 hospitals. We also have 319 ADH colleagues statewide who have stepped forward,” Donnie Smith, Bioterrorism Preparedness Team Leader, said. “That comes to 1,657 potential vaccinees. All volunteers will be carefully screened for contraindications at each of the clinics and we are asking everyone to err on the side of caution. Given the screening process and that we are still waiting for 30 hospitals to respond, these numbers will change.”

The voluntary vaccinations will begin with ADH Director Fay Boozman, MD, and members of the public health smallpox response teams, on Wednesday, February 19. Twenty clinics statewide will continue the voluntary vaccinations during the week of February 24.

If an actual smallpox outbreak should occur, the public health response teams vaccinated in Phase I would respond by either providing vaccine, investigating potential cases or providing care to those infected.

“This is a voluntary program, and we respect the decision of some hospitals not to vaccinate during Phase I,” Smith said. “We are not concerned about ‘getting enough people vaccinated.’ Our goal is to get a limited number of people vaccinated during Phase I so we will have responders who can go into action immediately in the event of a smallpox attack. We believe we will be able to accomplish that.”

There are no indications that the threat of smallpox is imminent. Phase I is strictly a precautionary measure.

Following is a preliminary list of the participating and non-participating hospitals as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2003: